January 31, 2012

Yes, I am well aware of the fact that it is still winter. However, that doesn't stop me from fantasising about those first days in spring, when you leave your house and discover you no longer need a coat. I always love to wear circle skirts when it's not too hot, but warm enough. They make me feel feminine and pretty. Inspired and all, I put together this cute fifties look.

January 30, 2012

I'm sure most of you know I love visiting fleamarkets. Yesterday me and my friend Tante Patent didn't just visit the local fleamarket in the Veemarkthallen... we rented a booth, brought pretty things and spend the day trying to sell beautiful vintage pieces! We were very pleased to see a lot of our gorgeousness went to sweet and appreciative customers. The best moment of the day; selling a dark blue ballgown to a 10-yeard-old girl that she'll be wearing to a Fantasy Fair this spring(L)!

The building looked as vintage as our clothes!

Our booth and Tante enjoying a much deserved sandwich

Ahh just ook at those old stock cuties!

Unfortunately no one bought this gorgeous fifties wedding dress :(

Our view.... we believe the neighbours didn't sell a lot of cars yesterday

Some antique vests

How can you resist.....

Thé prettiest dresses ever!!

Good thing I wore my lammy coat; it was freezing!

Yummy.... sandwiches and coffee from Patricks Food Corner!

Tiny forties wedges... to die for (L)

We had such a lovely day!

January 26, 2012

I'm going to add another feature to this blog. The 'Dress Like' posts will be about the style of an icon from the past. I'll put together a look from modern day (web)shops, inspired by the icon that is featured. The first lady I'm going to post about is the woman know for her masculine charm: Marlene Dietrich!

Everyone who has seen a movie with Marlene in it, will have noticed that she wasn't very mainstream. Her face and overall appearance are very androgynous. She wore a lot of (hight waisted) pants, which was quite shocking for women at the time. But she always remained feminine in my opinion, even while wearing a tuxedo and a top hat. Looking good was important for her, and if you read a bit about the lady you'll find out she went pretty far to maintain her special looks. Did you ever thought about how it was possible for her eyebrows to look so 'lifted'? Face-lifts were performed at the time, but they weren't very effective. Story goes Malrene put surgical pins in her wigs that lifted her forehead.... Some call it crazy; I call it dedication.

I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men.

January 24, 2012

I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.

- Audrey Hepburn

Today I played dress-up in my own clothing room; why not... it makes me happy. There is no harm in letting the inner child in you have some fun!And like Audrey said: "Happy girls are the prettiest girls!"

Dress: 30s vintage

Hat: 50s vintage

Necklace: antique gift

Watch: Kijkshop

Belt: thrifted

Gloves: 60s thrifted

Clutch: 30s vintage

Shoes: Steve Madden

January 23, 2012

Most people know what silhouette to think of when the fifties are mentioned; narrow waists and full petticoat skirts. But where did this look came from? It was in fact quite different from the slim shapes fashionable during the forties. And what did WW II have to do with it?

A sketch of the 1947 New Look

Christian Dior, one of the most famous fashion designers in the 20th century, was responsible for this so called 'New Look.' The end of wartime restrictions caused a major change in the shape of fashion as they knew it. Launched in 1947 at his Paris opening, Christian Dior's 'New Look', shook the world of fashion. His extravagant use of fabric, tight waist and molded bust were reminiscent of the past. Dior's timing couldn't be more perfect. After the war women longed for frivolity in dress and desired feminine clothes that did not look like a civilian version of a military uniform.

Dior developed a stiff synthetic net used to fill out his skirts, widely known as "Dior Net". The overknee petticoat (r)emerged from this underskirt and was worn daily by most women in the fifties. And while the majority found the new silhouette a symbol of prosperity, a few saw the physical restrictions and requirements of fashion as a return to a less active role for women. But in general, women embraced the new sophisticated design, and eagerly expanded their wardrobes collecting an outfit for every social occasion.

Dior's New Look lasted only until mid-decade when a straighter, more relaxed silhouette emerged. Christian Dior brought the center of the fashion world back to Paris, where he reined the fashion world until his untimely death in 1957. The house of Dior is still in production, and remains one of the leaders in haute couture. An although Dior himself has passed away more than fifty years ago, his New Look remains ever so popular... even to this day where the options and possibilities in fashion are endless.

January 22, 2012

A few weeks ago, I styled a shoot in Eindhoven with the theme 'Capricious.' Heidrun Klos was the photographer, she came up with the theme and the shoot was about a girl that was in between being a teenager and an adult woman. The fashion had to be chabby-chic, luxurious materials mixed with rugged elements. Here are the results!

I don't always wear high heels, fancy dresses and matching accessories. Sometimes I just put on my Levi's, a comfortable sweater and some easy going shoes. Espescially when working saturdays; I have to wear easy going clothes... Just plain me.

Sweater: thrifted

Blouse: H&M

Jeans: vintage Levi's

Shoes: thrifted

Belt: thrifted

Bracelet: fleamarket

January 21, 2012

One of the (vintage) brands I really like; Betty Barclay. A lot of the times I go vintage shopping, I find Barclay items... and I adore almost every single one of them. That's why I decided to have a look at the history of this clothing brand. A funny fact I stumbled upon... 'Vera Mont' (another label that always seem to catch my eye) is a 'baby line' of Betty Barclay! From now on; I'm going to share information about vintage brands and labels, so you guys can recognize labels when you vintage shopping/thrifting!

Seventies B.B. dress from my collection

Max Berk, a young German entrepreneur (and textile maker) in the fashion industry, bought a textile factory in 1938. During the war, the factory was destroyed and it had to be rebuild. In the fifties, he travelled to the United Stated, where he came across a brand popular amongst youngsters called Betty Barclay.

Max Berk

Betty Barclaywas not an actual person, but was just a name made up for this mid-priced line of ready-to-wear dresses. The company was owned by the Jonathan Logan company, one of the largest clothing manufacturers in the USA. In 1955 Max Berk (seen in the picture below) acquired the German license to make Betty Barclay dresses for the European market.

The first VERA MONT collection is developed. It concentrates on formal evening, cocktail and bridal fashions. Founding of VERA MONT in France. In 1968, the GIL BRET brand was created.A product line comprising coats, jackets, suits and trouser suits.In 1972 the company was bought by the German branch, and goes worldwide. And t's still in operation today.

I know Betty Barlcay as a label that always provides very feminine clothing. The fit is made for women, accentuating the female strong points. I also really love the quality and the pretty materials; this petrol blue dress is made of wool and it's incredibly soft!

This pattern is lovely, but I have to say the patterns on Betty Barclay dresses are alway very beautiful. Which is a very good thing; since a lot of brands (especially during the seventies) manage to create the most 'painfull' (for the eyes) patterns. Last but not least, the detailing in Betty Barclay items... perfection!

Dress: 70s vintage Betty Barclay

Fur collar: vintage

Necklace: thrifted

Belt: vintage

January 20, 2012

Since the thriftstore was next to the supermarkt I was going to; I had to have a look. And again, I found some great stuff! This time I took home a lovely knitted wool sweater, a oversised nautical jumper (the fit of this one is great!) a lace blouse and a 'pied-de-poule- blazer with a polka-dot lining. Total costs: 14 euro's.